Letters to the editor 3/1

'Miserable' status may prevent overpopulation

Regarding Forbes' list of most miserable cities, local residents should look upon the assessment ("Dutchess/Orange area makes Forbes list of 'most miserable cities,' " Feb. 23) of our region as a blessing in disguise - it just might discourage the overpopulation of the area, which most surely leads to "miserable."

The higher the population density, the higher the taxes, the higher the crime rates, the greater the pollution, the greater the strain on public services.

Thanks, Forbes!

Edward J. Sharkey

Dover Plains

Hastily enacted SAFE Act harms lawful gun owners

The right of Americans to keep and bear arms is unequivocally guaranteed under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, a crystal-clear provision for the people to possess arms for defense of life, liberty and property. However, undermining this fundamental right, last January the despotic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his co-conspirators in the Legislature passed the SAFE (Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement) Act.

SAFE was debated in closed session without benefit of the required committee hearings. Passed late at night, this fatally flawed statute was hastily adopted via a "message of necessity," implying that it required immediate approval despite not being fully enforceable for months yet to come.

One of the most reprehensible and restrictive SAFE provisions requires existing gun magazines exceeding seven rounds to be altered or disposed of by their owners, without compensation. In fact, this law was so recklessly enacted that initially it even prohibited police officers from possessing firearms with magazine clips exceeding seven rounds.

SAFE will not deter the criminal or mentally deranged from obtaining and using firearms against society. What is certain about this statute is its adverse effects on law-abiding gun owners, who will be less able to obtain, retain and use their own firearms for personal safety and recreational purposes.

I invite my fellow Dutchess County legislators to join me with a formal resolution petitioning our Albany legislators to uphold their oaths of office in support of the U.S. Constitution, and to repeal the SAFE Act.

Joe Incoronato

Dutchess County legislator, District 15

Wappingers Falls

Only a sick public needs military-style weapons

I have gone totally bonkers over the gun hearings, the right to defend ourselves with guns. OK. I give up. Bless the National Rifle Association.

The vacant-eyed female activist I recently watched on TV did me in.

She discussed how much safer women will feel in their homes if armed with weapons. Not, mind you, a single action handgun, but automatic Bushmasters able to fire rounds in seconds. She spoke of a hypothetical mother defending her screeching infant from five armed assailants.

There she stands, in shirtwaist, pearls, a burp-towel over her shoulder, knees flexed, guns ablazing.

We now have June Cleaver at her primal best! Indeed, let's give everyone, any gender, any mental status, a weapon.

New mothers absolutely need to be issued guns, maybe even a shoulder-held missile launcher. Baby boys at birth should be given little blue Glocks, and girls tiny pink Sig-sauers.

Of course, I sound like a nut. Assuming I'm not a nut, the gun issue is no joke. Not all guns can be taken away.

The real question is how crazy are we? Why do we need military weapons in the general public?

We are a sick nation with no cure in sight. How sick are we? Stick around and find out, but keep your flak jacket on and your head down.

Stephanie Smith

Poughkeepsie

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Letters to the editor 3/1

Regarding Forbes' list of most miserable cities, local residents should look upon the assessment ('Dutchess/Orange area makes Forbes list of 'most miserable cities,'